RSSBike Sprints And Ab Intervals
June 30, 2008
The purest thinking can come while exercising on a machine, because it clears out your mind of everything but that one movement that is being repeated. The doorway for more creative ideas opens in the absence of complex choreography. It’s a dynamic meditation that somehow opens a connection with Your Deeper Self. I expect running is very much like this too.
Linked to source.
The problem is that I get bored. Very bored. I start focusing on how bored I am, followed quickly by how exhausted I am. That happens within the first 10 minutes so I have to find ways to keep going.
Boredom busters
Like many of you have found, music is one of the keys. Music elevates you into a zone where you become the rhythm, you can feel it in the center of your head. On the other hand, for me, TV cancels it right out. I am tethered to the ground. It flatlines my brain completely.
Circuit training is also a great way of passing time and getting the most out of the hour. As the article Woman + Strength = Gorgeous : 4 Tough Step Circuit Workouts describes, this is a type of workout that mixes up the movement styles. Traditionally, you alternate cardio with strength sets. Really, you could alternate any two types of movement.
In this workout, you rotate between 15 minute hard bike sprints (or gentle cycling if you’re having that kind of day) with 10 or 15 minute ab routines. The time flies. The next rest period is never far away so working hard while you’re there comes a little easier.
Linked to source.
Ab Segment Workouts
Search Ab Segments at Collage Video. You’ll find 30 or more choices. Scan through them to see which offer 3 or 4 ten minute segments. I can tell you that Quick Fix Pilates is great.
I previewed a lot of the other search results. I’d buy Tom Holland’s Total Ab Workout and Star Trainers Abs in a second. The Star Trainers Abs page is linked to a Search page for a ll the Star Trainers videos. These are worth a look for several reasons. You get an hour or more for $14.95 and you meet many of the top trainers for 10 - 30 minutes, to decide if you’d like to buy more of their programs.
The ab moves could be traditional exercises like crunches and hip rolls or something a little different. They are all great programs. The segments are 10 minutes long ! You can do anything for 10 minutes. And everybody can carve 10 minutes out of a day. You won’t sweat so you don’t need to change your clothes.
Mindy Mylrea All About Abs
If you would like to try something off the beaten path of crunches, try the one I do, Mindy Mylrea’s All About Abs. This is my favorite ab workout because it is not mainstream. I’m always looking for new movements because as your body adapts to a new challenge, it also progresses. As in life, you can’t move forward by only ever doing what you already know how to do.
This one turns on the core muscles in a whole new way. There are 4 15-minute segments using resistance from body weight, a stability ball, a weighted ball (medicine ball), or sliding discs (paper plates work too).
If you can do any of these routines in their entirety the first time out, you are a stronger woman than I. There are maybe 8 standard crunches on the entire DVD. Sound difficult? Yes. It is.
The body stabilization ranges from demanding to killer. Some of these sets are very difficult and you have to work up to them. The key word is not “work”. It’s “up”.
“Up”, as in improved, enhanced, advanced, stronger. Just all-around better.
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